How Wonderfully Amazing!

This sketch is the beginnings of the Lighthouse project I wrote about in the previous blog, hope you like where it's going. The final drawing will be in colored pencil - a medium I've not seriously worked with before, so this will be interesting. Since starting this piece, I've also been working on improving my skills for capturing the likeness of people; this has always been a challenge for me. What I'm coming to realize in the process of awakening this "artist within" is that I lack patience with myself. My expectations are high and my self criticism is grossly skewed against me.  I get really frustrated while developing a piece, pick up the eraser (a no no particularly when lying down the foundation), or just trash it and start over and this can be after much time has been invested. Time is our most valuable commodity so wasting it adds more stress and on and on.... Perhaps this is why I was so negligent of my gift in the past and for the most part, left my sketchbook to collect dust. I have a tremendous amount of patience with others (although that's changing as I grow older - tee hee hee), but why not for myself? Hmmmm... - so, here's another virtue that my gift will teach me..."patience"... how wonderfully amazing. I mean, check it out... here's a God given gift that is FREE, is actually fun and relaxing, that challenges me, and teaches me practical lessons that I can apply to every aspect of my life!!! AND, if you're reading this, then just maybe you'll start to see how your gift(s) will serve you in the same way.  I now know that if I want to reach that level of peace of mind that I so desire, I have to continue to develop my God given gifts, no matter what; so says that Still Small Voice - wow.

       This Saturday, I will spend a few hours clearing out a room in my home in order to create a space for my art studio... having the right tools is very important.                                                                                         

       Some days, I don't feel much like blogging, but each time I sit down to do so, I have some sort of epiphany. It's the same with my art, I know that getting back into my artwork, and persevering, it will take me down paths I probably can't even imagine right now. Anyway - I'm glad I dropped in to the blog spot... thanks for dropping in too. =)

Day 4 - No Regrets, keep moving forward

Friday night was restless... I literally got maybe 3 hours of topsy-turny sleep between then and Saturday evening around 10:30. I realize that each day brings little hickups and disappointments but they also bring little successes that mostly go unnoticed and unappreciated. Yes, I was upset because of the lack of sleep and I had to miss my son's football game on Saturday morning (he was very cool about it; dad pulled up the rear), but later in the day I started working on a landscape sketch of a lighthouse on the ocean (I love lighthouses). How relaxing it was to "be" there, on the ocean under a beautiful blue sky. I have a whole new perspective on how our gifts serve us. As an artist works on a piece, he/she becomes one with it (at least I do); hours can pass and you don't even realize it - and when you know you need to put down your tools and say "answer mother nature"; you just keep going just a little longer (amazing). I never realized the significance of this gift before now. When they say "...your gifts will serve you." it means more than just monetarily. It also means mentally, emotionally, spiritually... you cannot put a price tag on that. Though my lighthouse sketch is not yet complete (it's a work in progress that will take several hours) I count it as a success on more than one level and most importantly, that creating it allowed me to escape the illusion and bask in reality.

I've allowed so many years to pass without acknowledging this gift; without appreciating this gift, without developing this gift, I'm sure many others are in the same predicament - otherwise the world wouldn't be in such a mess! The last time I sat down to really work on a piece I didn't need glasses =). But, I say "no regrets". Let go of past upsets and hurts. Someone once told me "...you should only revist the past when you're going back there to heal..." - profound advice! If you've lost your passion for something you once loved and enjoyed, just start doing it again little by little; look at others who share the same talent and are using it. Inspiration will come, passion will return but don't wait. NOW is the time to start.

Keep moving forward y'all!

Celebrate the small achievements

Today is September 11th... I'm sure you can remember where you were when our country was under terrorist attack. Be sure to take a moment of silence to remember and reflect.

I left my home around 8:45 am this morning with a sketch book in addition to my usual stuff. I intended on sketching during my lunch hour but the errands I had to run ate up the time. When I reached home, I was tired so after dinner I thought I'd lie down but in my minds eye, I saw the road of my journey stretching longer. Procrastination is a constant companion of mine; a master demotivator. But, thanks to my boyfriend's gentle nudging, I just finished working on drawing I started I don't know how long ago (pat on the back)... and by Sunday (9/13); I will have completed my first set of artwork for this week.

This is day two of my journey; I picked up a book by Ekhart Tolle that's been sitting (unread) on my desk for several months (no kidding)... "The Power of Now". After reading the first two paragraphs in chapter 1, I had a profound realization and quite possibly the true meaning of this blog for me (what a feeling). You see, I've heard time and again (maybe you have too) that you can't find happiness (peace of mind) by grasping at scraps of pleasure (no matter how much money you have); "...true wealth is the radiant joy of Being and the deep, unshakable peace that comes with it..." (Tolle). You've got to look inside yourself. My question, always following this statement, is "how do you look INSIDE yourself; what does that really mean?" I think I found the answer - - You look inside yourself by acknowledging, appreciating, and exercising your gifts!

If you have a gift; maybe it's singing, or writing, or listening to people, or painting... whatever it is - use it. It will serve you, it will free you.

Until next time... have a wonderful night!

Intro - Success really is the journey!

Well, where do I begin... I'm not a writer nor do I even blog, but I was inspired to challenge myself to start something and finish it. What I'm starting? Not so sure but I realize that this is uncertainty comes from my fear of commitment. You see, if I don't say specifically what I want to accomplish here, then it doesn't matter whether I accomplish anything or not and then I won't feel like a failure because... well - what goal did I ever set in the first place? So, to prove (to myself) that I'm not totally insane (expecting different results from the same old actions) I'm going to state what I want to accomplish in this blog.

It is said that the majority of us (humans) often endeavor in ventures that don't come easy instead of using our natural gifts and doing what we love. What I want to do with this blog is challenge myself (and you) to literally take a step towards my dream(s). Look fear in the face and say "talk to the hand" =) Somehow, sharing this with the world puts me on the spot - so I've got to dance.

A little about why I've come to do this. Okay, I'll level with you, I recently saw the movie Julie Julia and thought, wow - success IS the JOURNEY; then - my minister talked about self-righteousness which leads to self-centeredness which leads to never being satisfied because we think it's all about us (a mouth full I know). Who cares whether you find a pot of gold or not, being on a journey towards your dreams is really what matters. So, here I go. I am a 50 year old talented individual. I'm a pretty good visual artist, I can sing, and I can play the piano (by ear) but the sad part is very few people know it (including myself - deep I know). I haven't painted a picture in years (lazy artist), and although I have a piano, if it weren't for my son - it would be layered with dust! As far as singing - well - I've performed with different choirs over the years but I really leave singing up to my sister, cousins, aunts, and uncles who truly have gorgeous voices (seriously).

I know I'm not the only one out there sitting back on their laurels and letting their gifts go to waste. Well, let's take it one day at a time but please - do take it. Who knows where this will end up; maybe one day all of us shy folks will have a big party and share our talents.

Here's the first challenge for myself that I'm still working on - I taught myself to play "Stranger In Moscow" by Michael Jackson... I started it a couple of days ago, didn't touch the piano for two days - then I spent 3 hours one evening just working through it. I LOVE this song and the fact that I actually taught myself to play it made me realize that I CAN do whatever I set my heart out to do. SO... let's wrap this up; I will create at least three visual works of art per week (drawing, painting, graphics), for the next year, so on September 10, 2010 - I should have no less than 156 pieces. If you want to help me out, tell me something you would like for me to draw or paint - I need the inspiration.

Let the journey begin!